Update on the CollegesWales position post Brexit

04/11/2016

Since the UK Referendum result to leave the EU, ColegauCymru / CollegesWales has called on politicians to offer protection to skills and post 16 funding. As further details emerged on EU funding being guaranteed while the UK is a member of the EU, the charity is outlining why access to similar funding streams will remain crucial for the economy as the process of leaving the EU gets underway during the coming months.

As Wales’ post-16 education and training charity, ColegauCymru / CollegesWales wholeheartedly believes that future skills compatibility is a key issue for the economy. Wales’ learners and workforce should not be disadvantaged by losing opportunities to access mobility schemes like Erasmus+ which enable people to study, work, volunteer, teach and train in Europe.

Furthermore, the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), which enables learners, learning providers and employers to compare qualifications between different national systems, should be maintained in order for learners in the UK to benefit from learning programmes in Europe. Funding opportunities such as those available through Structural Funds and Rural Development programmes should continue to be available in the future to support activities such as helping people into work and training, youth employment, research and innovation, and the associated necessary capital and infrastructure investments.

Iestyn Davies, Chief Executive of ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, said, “Wales wants to be a key player in Europe and in the world. Any future legislation must not put the FE sector at a greater disadvantage than the current pre-Brexit conditions, as this could have damaging results for skills and the economy in Wales. The current funding programmes underway must be maximised whilst we remain an EU member and ColegauCymru /CollegesWales must be a central part of discussions relating to future FE funding arrangements, for the sake of our members, learners and a positive economy for the future.”